Brock Purdy’s San Francisco 49ers tied for $39 million from Chicago Bears (Image via Getty: San Francisco 49ers logo and Chicago Bears logo)
In February, Pop Crave reported that Cole Kimmitt told his agency he was ready for a change. The Chicago Bears believe he can be a TE1 on a less crowded roster.Other than Kmet, Ben Johnson’s franchise includes rookie Colston Loveland, whom they drafted as the No. 1 player.
The No. 10 overall pick in 2025, plus Durham Smith, Steven Karlsson and Nikola Kalinic.
But that was the February picture. Now the scene has changed. Smith goes to Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens, where he may find Mark Andrews as TE1. Anyway, the roster still includes Karlsson and Kalinic, but both were signed to reserve/future contracts in January 2026. It may seem crowded for Cole Kimmitt due to the rookie taking his spot.
Thus, trade rumors began circulating the Internet, with some suggesting the Chicago TE as a trade option to Brock Purdy’s San Francisco 49ers for a fourth-round pick. Why Niners? So, their star TE, George Kittle, could use some time to recover.
NFL Trade Rumors : 49ers’ Brock Purdy is linked to Bears TE Cole Kmet
Heavy Sports’ Max Dippel reports that Chicago could use one of its three compensatory picks on Kmet to acquire the 133rd fourth-round pick by trading him to San Francisco. He could serve as a one-year interim tight end for the Niners as long as Kittle recovers.
Kittle suffered a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon in the 2025 Wild Card Round against the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2026. His recovery timeline puts him on track for a mid-season return in 2026. However, he told reporters in January 2026 that he plans to return “well before November.”Then, in an appearance on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast in March 2026, Kittle shared that his rehab was going well and that he would be off crutches in a week or two[approx[approx
April 2026]. The typical recovery timeline is about 9 to 12 months, so it may not come back by the first week. The Niners may be looking for a consistent, reliable backup. And here comes Cole Kimmitt from Chicago.
Chicago could trade or restructure Cole Kimmitt’s contract
Dible reported that the Bears currently have $1 million in cap space. They need cap space to sign draft picks next month. A Kmet trade could free up nearly $10 million in cap space in each of the Bears’ next two seasons, provided they make the move after June 1.The franchise has reportedly found a successor for Cole Kmet in Loveland, especially after they elevated him to a TE1 role as a starter.Bleacher Report’s Christopher Knox reports that Kmet could be one of the top candidates for an NFL cut after early free agency. Knox suggests they could trade him or restructure his contract rather than release him. Despite being a reliable contributor, the 27-year-old was traded for a rookie in 2025.
The veteran tallied 347 yards and two touchdowns while the rookie collected a team-high 713 yards. Knox reported that the Bears spent big to improve their defense in 2025 by adding defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, linebackers Jack Sanborn and Devin Bush, and safety Kobe Bryant. This left them with a league-low $1 million in cap space. Kmet still has two years left on a four-year, $50 million contract extension. If Chicago can’t restructure or find a franchise for him, it could release him after June 1 and save $9 million.
A release before June 1 will free up about $7.4 million in cap space. They could release him if they find some depth behind Loveland in the draft. Knox suggests Kmet is ideal for any team that needs a pass-catching tight end. He caught 288 passes for 2,939 yards and 21 touchdowns in six seasons. According to Spotrac, the Notre Dame graduate is set to earn a base salary of $8.9 million, a roster bonus of $1 million, and a $100,000 workout bonus, while carrying a cap hit of $11.6 million and a dead cap value of $4.2 million in 2026. His career earnings total more than $39 million. Will the quantity be traded? It remains to be seen…